Supporting framework for swimming pools



Aug. 12, 1958 E. c. WALLACE 2,346,694

- SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK FOR swnmmc POOLS I Filed April 12, 1951 INVENTOR.v EARL c. WALLACE mum ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 2,846,694Patented Aug. 12, 1958 SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK FOR SWIIVIMING POOLS Earl C.Wallace, Andrews, Ind., assignor to The Hettrick Manufacturing Company,Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 12, 1957, ,SerialNo. 652,451

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-172) This invention relates to tanks and pools and,more particularly, to a portable swimming pool of the type wherein thewater is contained in a flexible fabric body, and wherein the side wallsof the body are supported by an encompassing framework.

The primary object of the invention is to provide, for the side walls ofa flexible fabric swimming pool, a supporting framework of theknock-down type which can be readily assembled and disassembled. Anotherobject is the provision of a sturdy fiamework to maintain a flexiblepool body in the desired overall shape, although yielding slightly tohydraulic local surge and wavemotions, or to outward thrusts exertedagainst the pool side wall by the swimmers. While the framework consistsessentially of an encompassing band of open-net wire fencing andseparable stiffening and supporting members, it is intended particularlythat the parts shall interlock in such manner that they may yield orwork to a limited extent with respect to one another without comingapart. It is further intended that the encompassing composite frameworkof fence wire and stiffening members be formed of the knock-down unitscapable of being shipped in flat cartons, and of being stacked andstored in flat piles.

In keeping with the above objects, it is proposed now to provide aplurality of rectangular panels of wire fencing, each having horizontalstrands at each end bent around to form half-loops, and with a verticalstrand interconnecting the half-loops adjacent the free end of theloops, so that the half loops at the ends of adjacent fence panelsoverlap one another and define a vertically extending pocket. It isfurther proposed that there be vertical posts common to each twoadjacent fence panels, the posts engaging in the pockets defined by theoverlapping half loops so as to interlock the adjacent fence panels. Afurther object is that the posts be provided with sockets at their upperand lower ends to receive angularly bent ends of upper and lowerhoriozntal rail sections. The end result intended by these objects is toprovide a framework so that the upper edges of a fabric pool body may besecured over the upper horizontal rails and suspended therefrom and sothat the other side of the pool body is supported against outwardlyexerted thrusts by the framework.

These and other objects will be apparent from the followingspecification and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete pool;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the framework of the pool, showing onecomplete panel and its juncture with adjacent panels;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the curvedends of adjacent panels prior to being joined together; and,

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the relationship of thesame elements when joined.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denotesimilar elements, the swimming pool 2 has a flexible fabric body ofwater proof material con* sisting of a bottom (not shown) and a sidewall 4 of closed configuration. It will be understood that pool 2 is ofconsiderable size and volume, capable of accommodating a number ofadults and children without overcrowding, and of sufficient depth topermit shallow diving. In general form and arrangement, pool 2 issimilar to the one described in the application of James J. Meekin etal., Serial No. 551,945, filed December 18, 1955, for Swimming PoolStructure, of common ownership herewith. The invention is concernedprimarily with the improvements in supporting framework 6 which supportsand reinforces theside wall 4 of the flexible pool body.

Supporting framework 6 consists of a circuitous series of substantiallyidentical panels, three of which are designated 8a, 8b, 8c respectively,the panels consisting esesntially of open-mesh stifi metallic fence wirehaving vertical strands 10 crossing and joined to horizontal strands 12.The panels are connected to one another by joints 14, and are of suchsize and shape that they may be easily handled and joined together byone or two persons.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that thehorizontal strands 12 are formed at their opposite ends with J-shapebent portions 16, providing open loops 18. Vertical strands designated10a and 10b for convenience of exposition are secured to the horizontalstrands 12 adjacent the free ends of the bent portions 16 in order totie the free ends of the horizontal stands together and also forpurposes which will be apparent from Fig. 4.

Joints 14 are formed by placing two panels end-to-end and moving themendwise towards one another until the bent portions 16 interdigitate asdetailed in Fig. 4. The overlapping loops 18 thus define a verticalchannel 20. Initially, channel 20 is enlarged by moving the panelsfurther towards one another than as shown in Fig. 4, thereby makingchannel 20 large enough to accommodate a vertical post 22. Thereafter,the panels are returned to the Fig. 4 position so that post 22 is firmlyengaged within channel 20, whereupon vertical strands 10a and 10b willlie outwardly of the post. Vertical channel 20 must be enlarged toreceive post 22 because the latter is enlarged at its upper and lowerends to provide double sockets 24 and 26 respectively, for accommodatingthe bent end portions 28 of top rails 30 and bottom rails 32. When thepool is filled, the outward thrust of the water against side wall 4 isexerted against the supporting framework, thereby locking the panels andvertical posts in the condition shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

Horizontal top and bottom rails 30, 32 and vertical posts 22 provideloose frames of still? members surrounding the wire panels and joints 14between the panels provide a composite framework capable of a certainamount of working at the joints, but providing support and reinforcementfor the side wall 4 of the flexible pool body when the top edge portionof the latter is folded over and suitably secured to top rails 30, asindicated at 34. However, the outward thrust of the water within thepool stabilizes the supporting framework so that the latter retains itsoriginal configuration, and withstands the strains from being climbedupon and pushed against which normally occur in the exuberant play ofthe occupants.

When it comes time to dismantle the pool, the water is drained, thesidewall 4 of the flexible fabric body is disconnected from the toprails 30 of supporting framework 6, and the latter is knocked down byremoving top and bottom rails 30, 32, pushing together adjacent panelsso as to enlarge chaimels 20, and withdrawing vertical posts 22. Theinvention is not limited to the details illustrated and describedherein, but is intended to cover all sub stitutions, modifications andequivalenls wi h li the scope of the following claims. i v i I claim:

1. A supporting framework of closed configuration for swimming pools,"comprising a plurality of openmesh wire"panelshavifigsp iiced horizontalstr'an'ds'and vertical strands jqined"'the'reto, said horizontal strandshaving opposite end portions with substantially J-shape bends providingopen loops, said panels being disposed end t'o-end the loops at the"ends of adjacentp'anels interdigitating withoneanothe'r and cooperatingto define substantially vertical channels, subst ia lly vertical postsengaged in said channels, 'said po sts 'h'avin'g sockets at the endsthereof, and substantially horizontal rails extending frompost-to-pos't, said rails having angular end portions engaged in saidsockets.

2; The 'cornbination"la1ms in claim 1, each of said panels having avertical strand respectively joined to the horizontal strands thereofadjacent the free ends of the bends.

3, A portable swimmingpool comprising a pool body of flexible sheetmaterial having a bottom wall and a side wall of closed configuration, asupporting framework for the outer side of said side wall, comprising aplurality of open-mesh stiff wire panels having spaced horizontalstrands and vertical strands joined thereto; said horizontal strandshaving opposite end portions with substantially J-shaped bends providingopen loops, said panels being disposed end-to-end with the loops at theends of adjacent panels interdigitating with one another and cooperatingto define substantially vertical channels, l y-v i a pos en a ed in sad.- han e said posts having sockets at the upper and lower ends thereof,and substantially horizontal top and bottom rails extending from 'pos tto -pt'rst, said rails liavingfangular end'portions' engaged in saidsockets," the sidewall of the pool body having its top edge securedov'efthe' top rails of said'framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fram s]Feb; 15, 1950

